He said there was a place to hold a debate and that was on the floor of the House of Representatives and Mr Rudd should recall parliament.

"If on the other hand Mr Rudd wants to have an early election and we certainly agree that's a very good idea... then of course Mr Abbott will debate him in the National Press Club or anywhere else," he told the ABC Q and A program.

Mr Rudd has booked the National press Club on Thursday for a debate with Mr Abbott who hasn't said he'll turn up, insisting the government either recall parliament or call the election.

Mr Turnbull said Mr Abbott really didn't need to turn up.

"Kevin can debate himself," he said.

"Take immigration - Kevin 07 can say 'stop the boats' and then he can duck around to the other side of the platform and Kevin 13 can say 'you can't stop the boats, you can't tow the boats back'," he said.

Mr Turnbull said Mr Rudd had so many positions on economics, he could form the whole panel.

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